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Went down a rabbit hole looking for cross-industry innovations (AKA one industry borrowing from another).
Found some good ones
1/ James Dyson created the Dyson vacuum design after seeing how sawmills use cyclone force to eject sawdust.
Found some good ones
1/ James Dyson created the Dyson vacuum design after seeing how sawmills use cyclone force to eject sawdust.
2/ The OG example: Henry Ford's car assembly line borrowed innovations from 3 industries:
• Watch (interchangeable parts)
• Canning (continuous flow manufacturing)
• Meatpacking (Ford reversed the "disassembly" part of the meatpacking process - AKA chopping up cows)
• Watch (interchangeable parts)
• Canning (continuous flow manufacturing)
• Meatpacking (Ford reversed the "disassembly" part of the meatpacking process - AKA chopping up cows)
3/ BMW created its iDrive system -- a way to safely manage your control panel (e.g., keep your eyes on the road while driving) -- by borrowing from video game controllers.
4/ Owen Maclaren created the first foldable baby stroller (AKA lightweight baby buggy or pram) by borrowing the design of an airplane's landing gear.
As a former aeronautical engineer, he understood the mechanics of lightweight, collapsible structures.
As a former aeronautical engineer, he understood the mechanics of lightweight, collapsible structures.
5/ In the mid-90s, a Children's Hospital in the UK improved its ICU hand-off process by consulting with the Ferrari F1 pit crew team.
The hospital recorded its surgery room operation and the F1 suggested a new protocol: the error rate dropped from 30% to 10%.
The hospital recorded its surgery room operation and the F1 suggested a new protocol: the error rate dropped from 30% to 10%.
6/ Baby incubator
In late 1800s, French doctor Etienne Tarnier was looking for a solution to save babies born prematurely.
On a visit to the Paris zoo, he saw poultry incubators and borrowed that innovation to make a baby incubator.
In late 1800s, French doctor Etienne Tarnier was looking for a solution to save babies born prematurely.
On a visit to the Paris zoo, he saw poultry incubators and borrowed that innovation to make a baby incubator.
7/ Soda bottling plants
The rotary milking parlour was invented in the 1930s. It was the most efficient way to milk cows.
Soda bottling plants have a similar set up
(*I'm not actually sure the direction of the borrowing here...feel free to @ me).
The rotary milking parlour was invented in the 1930s. It was the most efficient way to milk cows.
Soda bottling plants have a similar set up
(*I'm not actually sure the direction of the borrowing here...feel free to @ me).
8/ 3M created a product that prevents post-surgery facial infections by consulting theatrical make-up artists.
9/ An escalator company borrowed techniques from the mining industry to install escalators in shopping malls.
10/ A hospital in the Netherlands (Amphia) improved operations and patient service by borrowing the airport control tower concept.
Specifically, Amphia has its own Hospital Control Center to route medical procedures.
Specifically, Amphia has its own Hospital Control Center to route medical procedures.
11/ After WWI, Kotex created disposable female sanitary napkins based on surgical field dressings used in battle.
(There was a post-war abundance of cellucotton, absorbent fibrous material created to make up for cotton shortfalls during WWI).
(There was a post-war abundance of cellucotton, absorbent fibrous material created to make up for cotton shortfalls during WWI).
12/ Pharma company GSK borrowed innovations from McLaren racing team:
• Telemetry and sensor analysis used for race cars to monitor stroke victims
• Pit crew methods to improve the handover of toothpaste production from 2 different brands: Sensodyne to AcquaFresh
• Telemetry and sensor analysis used for race cars to monitor stroke victims
• Pit crew methods to improve the handover of toothpaste production from 2 different brands: Sensodyne to AcquaFresh
13/ For more wild internet rabbit holes, smash that FOLLOW: @TrungTPhan
Here's one you might enjoy: https://twitter.com/TrungTPhan/status/1334545044187959299?s=20
Here's one you might enjoy: https://twitter.com/TrungTPhan/status/1334545044187959299?s=20
14/ Sources:
UK Children's Hospital: http://asq.org/healthcare-use/why-quality/great-ormond-street-hospital.html
McLaren GSK: https://www.mclaren.com/group/case-studies/case-study-gsk/
3M + Elevator: https://hbr.org/2014/11/sometimes-the-best-ideas-come-from-outside-your-industry
Dyson Sawmill: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/24/interview-james-dyson-vacuum-cleaner
UK Children's Hospital: http://asq.org/healthcare-use/why-quality/great-ormond-street-hospital.html
McLaren GSK: https://www.mclaren.com/group/case-studies/case-study-gsk/
3M + Elevator: https://hbr.org/2014/11/sometimes-the-best-ideas-come-from-outside-your-industry
Dyson Sawmill: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/24/interview-james-dyson-vacuum-cleaner
15/ The mathematics of auto tune used by musicians came from the oil and gas industry.
(h/t @rishmishra) https://boingboing.net/2021/01/08/how-the-oil-industry-accidentally-created-autotune.html
(h/t @rishmishra) https://boingboing.net/2021/01/08/how-the-oil-industry-accidentally-created-autotune.html
16/ Different kind of innovation here.
Look at the similar profiles between a B2 Bomber and a Peregrine Falcon:
Look at the similar profiles between a B2 Bomber and a Peregrine Falcon:
17/ “Nike's Bill Bowerman with the waffle iron soles” — h/t @activerecall
18/ This cross-industry innovation would break the internet.
New Tesla Roadster to have rocket thrusters (via the “SpaceX option package”).
New Tesla Roadster to have rocket thrusters (via the “SpaceX option package”).
